Farmers call for UK animal welfare rules to be upheld in Gulf states deal

PM urged to ensure 1.6bn trade agreement does not undermine industry with influx of lower-welfare meat

A trade deal with Gulf states could severely undermine British farmers by allowing the importation of low-welfare meat, the National Farmers' Union has said in a letter to the prime minister.

The UK is close to signing a 1.6bn trade agreement with Gulf states - Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates - amid deep dissatisfaction from farming and animal welfare groups over an expected deal for food imports.